Art Therapists
"Ibrahim is extremely aggressive with others and doesn't respect people older than him; Jihad, on the other hand, won't listen to anyone and always thinks she's right, and doesn't like people giving her any advice; while their third brother, Adham, is the complete opposite of both of them — very withdrawn and afraid to interact with people." That's how one Egyptian mother described the behavioral issues her three children were dealing with, even though they were still in elementary school. The mother recounts that she and her three children visited a childcare center in her city looking for a solution to what she was going through with her kids, and some specialists and therapists at the center got closer to understanding her children's situation and used a psychological treatment suited for children called "art therapy," where the therapists had the three children take part in acting workshops with other kids to help them release their feelings and emotions. The mother found that her children's behavior improved significantly and that they interacted much better with others after receiving a number of art therapy sessions at the center. Art therapy means using creative arts such as acting, music, dance, drawing, sculpture, painting, and clay modeling to help people dealing with behavioral disorders, emotional problems, or mental health conditions, by involving them in group or individual sessions to practice these activities that allow them to express their feelings. Art therapy isn't limited to children — it's suitable for all ages: for elderly people, for families struggling to raise their children, for individuals dealing with trauma from accidents or war, for cases of depression and anxiety, and for people with serious illnesses like cancer or asthma. Studies have shown that art therapy helps lower anxiety and stress levels, reduces depression, and helps patients live better and reintegrate into society. Responsibility for art therapy in hospitals, centers, and various care facilities falls to a group of specialists called "art therapists," who are often either psychiatrists or psychologists with broad experience using different art forms during the treatment sessions their clients — children, patients, and others — need.
Meet the Writer: Waleed Abo Omiraa
What You'll Actually Do
The core tasks and responsibilities that fill a typical day.
- Analyze data to determine the effectiveness of treatments or therapy approaches.
- Analyze or synthesize client data to draw conclusions or make recommendations for art therapy.
- Assess client needs or disorders, using drawing, painting, sculpting, or other artistic processes.
- Communicate client assessment findings and recommendations in oral, written, audio, video, or other forms.
- Conduct art therapy sessions, providing guided self-expression experiences to help clients recover from, or cope with, cognitive, emotional, or physical impairments.
- Confer with other professionals on client's treatment team to develop, coordinate, or integrate treatment plans.
- Customize art therapy programs for specific client populations, such as those in schools, nursing homes, wellness centers, prisons, shelters, or hospitals.
- Design art therapy sessions or programs to meet client's goals or objectives.
- Develop individualized treatment plans that incorporate studio art therapy, counseling, or psychotherapy techniques.
- Establish goals or objectives for art therapy sessions in consultation with clients or site administrators.
- Instruct individuals or groups in the use of art media, such as paint, clay, or yarn.
- Interpret the artistic creations of clients to assess their functioning, needs, or progress.
- Observe and document client reactions, progress, or other outcomes related to art therapy.
- Talk with clients during art or other therapy sessions to build rapport, acknowledge their progress, or reflect upon their reactions to the artistic process.
- Write treatment plans, case summaries, or progress or other reports related to individual clients or client groups.
- Conduct information sharing sessions, such as in-service workshops for other professionals, potential client groups, or the general community.
- Gather client information from sources such as case documentation, client observation, or interviews of client or family members.
- Recommend or purchase needed art supplies or equipment.
- Review research or literature in art therapy, psychology, or related disciplines.
- Select or prepare artistic media or related equipment or devices to accomplish therapy session objectives.
- Supervise staff, volunteers, practicum students, or interns.
- Teach art therapy techniques or processes to artists, interns, volunteers, or others.